Article

2004-08-17 Iraq-Jordan

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Atropanthe 2004-08-17 12:00:00 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Some background on Sadr (I did some open source digging):

The Sadr family used to be the Grand Ayatollah of the Najaf shrine. His father got a lot of say in where the money from that Shrine goes - and he steered a lot of it to the poor in what is now called "Sadr City".

Oh, you didnt know that EVERY pilgrim that goes to the shrine pays a tithe, a tax, for admission? You didnt know it was a large amount of money and that the Ayatollah Sadrand his family benefitted from it quite nicely - materially and in terms of prestige - you didnt know that?

As Limbaugh likes to say, Follow the Money.

So the Sadrs were rolling in the cash, hard currency from Pilgrims. That is until Saddam offed the elder Sadr for causing too much troiuble in the ghettos of Baghdad. And all of a sudden they needed a new leader, and the younger Sadr was not ready for the position, so Sistani got the position (and the cash).

After Sistani took over, the money flowed the other way (to the Southern areas instead of the Baghdad), and poor little Tater was off the gravy train. Thats why Tater had his rival cleric killed - the guy was much more popular and was in line to take Sistani's place. Sadr had him killed bacause he wanted to move up in line for the money from the Shrine.

And thats what he's doing now. Trying to position himself for the money.

Posted by Oldspook 2004-08-17 12:32:32 AM|| 2004-08-17 12:32:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Oldspook, by the accounts that I have read Sar's dad was plum loco as well. The family is very well connected in Iran, though.

Posted by Super Hose 2004-08-17 12:39:25 AM|| 2004-08-17 12:39:25 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Step 1 Open Mouth.
Step 2 Insert both feet.
Step 3 Shoot self in both feet.

If this is true this clown just asked the Shittes to kill him by siding the wrong folks very publicly.

Posted by Flamebait93268 2004-08-17 12:58:28 AM|| 2004-08-17 12:58:28 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 And thats what he's doing now. Trying to position himself for the money.

I guess he's about to learn that "you can't take it with you".

Maybe the Iranians don't like the idea that they are losing these funds and that the Iraqi's will be receiving them in the future without giving them a portion of the proceeds.

I hope Sadr doesn't blow the Mosque - but if he do - the fact that he did it willingly will mute the outrage that would have occurred if Iraqi's hadn't made of show of offering him surrender.

Posted by B 2004-08-17 1:04:33 AM|| 2004-08-17 1:04:33 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 does

Posted by B 2004-08-17 1:05:25 AM|| 2004-08-17 1:05:25 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 well oldspook is right. Follow the money. Old-Sadr had a big pile from his salvation and soul recycling business.
The pimply faced bad toothed Mookster has bit off more than he can chew. The blood of Ali has been a cult right up there with wahabism.
lets nuke the taters! One potato (najaf) 2 potato - ?

Posted by hound 2004-08-17 7:04:04 AM|| [http://www.thehounded.blogspot.com] 2004-08-17 7:04:04 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 What would John Wayne do with these pilgrims?

Posted by Capt America 2004-08-17 10:44:05 AM|| [http://captamerica.blogspot.com/] 2004-08-17 10:44:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 Simple, he would have bush-whacked them at the pass. Some day, one day, the kid gloves will have to come off. Hopefully after the Bush landslide.

Posted by Atropanthe 2004-08-17 2:11:28 PM|| 2004-08-17 2:11:28 PM|| Front Page Top

19:46 Emarati
13:57 .com
13:51 Bulldog
13:47 .com
13:43 Bulldog
13:32 Salahuddin
13:19 Bulldog
13:12 Bulldog
13:02 Salahuddin
10:36 Howard UK
10:34 Robert Crawford
10:31 Salahuddin
09:06 Trolling for Allan
09:05 Howard UK
09:02 Salahuddin
08:48 Frank G
08:37 Howard UK
08:34 Salahuddin
04:26 GreatestJeneration
02:36 Anonymous6110
14:35 danking70
14:27 True German Ally
14:26 Anonymous6104
13:37 Bulldog